Dental crowns are used in a variety of restorative applications. Dentists may apply them to cover teeth after fillings and root canals. In addition, crowns may cover teeth that have incurred cracks or chips.
In some instances, dental providers use crowns to help replace lost teeth. The crowns may cover the abutment teeth to hold fixed bridges in the mouth. Also, they may cover the abutments of dental implants in single-tooth restorations.
The devices can be made from various materials, such as porcelain over metal, all-porcelain, resin, stainless steel, or gold. Nonetheless, tooth color crowns are often preferred. White materials, such as porcelain and resin, may be matched to the natural tooth color of the patient.
Regardless of the type of crown that is used, it is important to care for the crown properly to avoid the need for a crown replacement. Here are some measures that you can take to help ensure that your dental crown lasts as long as possible.
Wear a Night Giard If You Suffer from Bruxism
Bruxism is a condition in which a patient grinds or clenches their teeth. The grinding episodes often occur at night while the patient sleeps.
The force of the grinding can be severe enough to damage natural tooth material as well as dental crowns. To help protect the teeth and crowns from damage, patients are often advised to wear a night guard while they sleep. The guard absorbs the grinding pressure, making it less likely to crack, dent, or chip a dental crown.
Brush and Floss Thoroughly
A crown is not made of living material, which can decay. However, it may require replacement if the tooth that it covers suffers from decay or infection. Plaque can affect the gingival tissues surrounding a dental crown, inciting gum disease. Gum disease may become severe enough that it leads to a gingival infection.
In some instances, the infecting microbes may migrate to the jawbone, causing the tooth to loosen in its socket. Additionally, the gums may recede due to periodontitis, allowing plaque to access the exposed portion of the tooth to cause decay, even with the crown in place. If the covered tooth is lost, so is the crown. By brushing and flossing regularly, you can remove decay-causing bacteria and plaque, protecting the crown-covered teeth.
Wear a Mouthguard for Sports
If you participate in contact sports, be sure to wear a mouthguard during play. The guard protects the teeth from a blow that could damage a dental crown or dislodge the tooth that it covers.
To learn more about dental crowns and how to care for them, schedule a consultation with a dentist in your local area.
Share18 February 2022
My name is Cicely Davenport and if you need to get dentures, but you have questions about them, I invite you to read my blog to learn the answers. I too needed to get dentures but I wanted to find out everything I could about them before I committed. I read all about full dentures and partial dentures, and the difference between each of the two kinds. I went ahead and got a full set of dentures and I really like how they look and feel. I want to help others who are also thinking about dentures and you can learn a lot about them when you read my blog.
